Who knows, maybe His Airness has himself in mind. Anything to get out of the house.

Gar Heard says he suspected he was in job jeopardy when Jordan practiced with Washington and “Higgins” and “Walker” were scrawled on his sneakers.

AS Kerry Kittles continues to struggle, especially in the fourth quarter of close games, I can’t help but think what fun the Nets would be to watch had John Calipari reached for the stars and instead drafted Kobe Bryant; something I implored on TNT for him to do.

This just in: Stephon Marbury will be a participant during All-Star weekend after all. The NBA has invited Allen Iverson, Jason Williams, Michael Bibby, Larry Hughes, Damon Stoudamire and the Nets’ picturesque point guard to compete in its newest contest “Tattoo Ball.”

Seems to me, the Suns would be exactly where they are today (26-19), and will be evicted from the playoffs at their usual time come April, without spending $84M on Penny Hardaway. No disrespect to Hardaway, but why recruit him when the team’s most pressing need was a frontcourt force? Because ticket sales were lagging. Management felt the urge to make a “big splash” in order to recapture their fans’ attention and entertainment dollar.

Penny, by the way, now admits he suffered his plantar fascitis injury when he put his foot in his mouth.

Sean Elliott has been cleared to play against Hardaway … Sam Perkins, 39 on June 14, is rethinking retirement at season’s end. As well as the Pacers’ registered adult is playing and as expressly coveted he is by Indiana, Milwaukee and Portland, why not play another year at today’s exception price ($2M) as long as he’s healthy?

Jerry Stackhouse says his fiancee is putting the pressure on him to win the All-Star jamboree. “She is coming up with dunks that Superman couldn’t do.” Shawn Kemp, to his eternal credit, says he’s more disappointed in the Cavaliers’ losing record than being left off the All-Star team for the first time since 1992. “What have we got, 18 wins?” he asked prior to Tuesday’s victory over the Wizards. “I’m not very proud of that.”

When the day comes where Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker “are our two best defensive players, as well as being our two best offensive players,” Rick Pitino told the Boston Globe, “I think that’s when we’ll have arrived as a basketball team.”

Magic GM John Gabriel feels a large part of Doc Rivers’ success can be pinned on his ability not to sweat the small stuff. “He’s always focusing on the big picture.” As opposed to the majority of coaches whose players drive them to distraction because of minor mistakes, nagging bad habits or grating personalities.

Mavericks’ owner (“Come on down”) Mark Cuban says Dennis Rodman can ride a bike during practice, avoid shootarounds and arrive for games a half hour later than other players as long as he works hard during appearances on Jay Leno … I just spoke to Rodman. He’s hoping to use the Dallas cameo as a springboard to getting hooked up with the XFL.

Larry Brown says Iverson is not benefiting from the NBA’s revised hand-checking rule, or the NFL’s instant replay … The Timberwolves, in the market (now or come the offseason) for an off guard capable of beating his man off the dribble, are the latest team to express interest in acquiring Hughes from the Sixers. My advise is, don’t offer Wally Sczcerbiak. “Larry wasn’t impressed with Wally when he coached him last summer in Puerto Rico,” said a friend of Brown’s. “He feels Wally can’t get his own shot and can’t stop anyone from getting their shot.”

UTAH fans are requested to look at the bright side of Friday’s devastating 113-67 loss to the Lakers. All 12 of their players got significant (double figures time). This is bound to help the team in crunch time of their next blowout.

The Jazz now have dropped an unheard of six straight, appearing more unathletic and smaller than ever. Particularly at off guard, where opponents are exploiting Jeff Hornacek and Howard Eisley. Think they might miss Shandon Anderson? Hell, they even miss Chris Morris.

Why wasn’t Ron Artest picked to play against last year’s rookie crop during All-Star weekend, and Frederic Weis, er, Todd MacCulloch was? That’ll teach him to get thrown out of rookie orientation. Or did MacCulloch win the tie-breaker by voiding Charles Barkley’s last shot?

Oh, you’d like to know the real reason. Actually, there are two: The Bulls had won but two games when the team was selected and Chicago already was represented by Elton Brand (no relation to Elton John); and this year’s rookie squad had no big man, hence MacCulloch’s selection.

Dale Davis broke his nose Friday. Nick Anderson caught him with one of his errant free throws … Mark Jackson’s 16th triple-double (15 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds vs. Kings Friday night) puts him one behind Scottie Pippen for 12th place all time in that category. Oscar Robertson is first with 178, Magic Johnson second with 138 and Wilt Chamberlain third with 74 … Derrick McKey’s 10 rebounds in 26 minutes against Sacramento was the most ever accumulated by a player in traction.

Latrell Sprewell is convinced he would’ve made the All-Star team had John McCain been on the ballot earlier … What did Dennis Johnson do that was so wrong that the Clippers would hire him as an interim assistant? … Taking no chances leading up to the All-Star Game in Oakland, the league has imposed a midnight curfew on participants. Midnight tonight!

The Wizards spliced together a splendid audition tape of Ike Austin (14 points and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes against Miami) to send to the Pistons, Bucks, Lakers and Nets. I’d rather take a chance on Austin than Rony Seikaly whose also being considered by a couple of those same teams. When you lose your desire to play it’s almost impossible to rekindle the spark; Seikaly flamed out long ago.

Marbury is on his way to setting a franchise record for most minutes played in a season without a national endorsement … Had the Lakers lost to Utah, owner Jerry Buss was prepared to sell the team to Bruce McNall … I see where Rick Barry is working the studio for Canadian TV. I didn’t realize he was blackballed from our entire country.